Garment pressing machine



Dec) 23, 1941.

H. G. SUTTON GARMEN'Il PRESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1959 3Shee's--Shee'fl l mmntor .f S. :www

, 34 @wim- Dec. 23, 1941. H. G. SUTTON GARMENT PRESSING MACHINE* FiledDec. 19, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 23, 1941. SUTTON GARMENT PRESSINGMACHINE Filed Dec. 19,1939

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l A .HQ

Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GARMENT PRESSINGMACHINE Harry G. Sutton, Syracuse, N. Y., assigner to United StatesHoiman Machinery Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of DelawareApplication December 19, 1939, Serial No. 310,075

Claims.

This invention pertains to an improved press of the so-called jumpertype, which may be utilized in various garment pressing operations, itbeing particularly applicable for the opening and pressing of seams.

As in machines of this type heretofore placed upon the market, the ironis pivotally mounted, as by a ball joint, upon one end of an arm or barwhich is slidable through a guideway or support mounted for lateralswinging movement, as Well as for tilting movement toward and from theunderlying buck, the latter movement being for the purpose of applyingpressure to the iron and, consequently, to the goods imposed upon theironing board or buck.

Heretofore, seam opening machines of fthe same general type as thatherein disclosed have had connections between the hose (supply andreturn) and the iron made at or adjacent the rear end of the iron,-withthe result that the weight of the hose was carried by the rear end ofthe iron. Such an arrangement causes a partial rotation of the ironabout its ball joint support, so that the point of the iron when idle istilted upwardly away from the horizontal plane of the work table. Theiron, therefore, must be tilted to a horizontal position against theweight of the hose before it can be used. The present structure doesaway with this. Furthermore, the proximity of the hose connections tothe rear end of the iron under the old constructions, made the clearancebetween the operators elbow and the hose uncomfortably close, and as aconsequence the operators movements were cramped in avoiding contactwith the hose.

The present construction has for one of its objects an arrangement whichovercomes the objections of prior constructions, by connecting thesupply and return hose near the center of oscillation of the iron, andso arranging the hose connections that they will swivel at their pointof connection to the steam iron when the iron is oscillated about itsball joint; support. Furthermore, the steam hose and the return hose areboth supported near the center of their length by a linkage system, oneend of which is attached to the sliding bar which supports the iron, andthe other end to the support in which the sliding bar is mounted. Thus,an automatic compensation for the support of the hose is provided at anyposition of the iron with reference to the buck of the machine.

The handle for the iron is so arranged that it horizontal position.Thus, the steam iron assembly may be readily and quickly converted fromwhat is known in the trade as a vertical handle iron to an oifset handleiron, through means shortly to be described.

A further object of the invention is to employ a structure wherein thesteam spray and steam return conduits are primarily formed in asuperstructure casting securely attached to the body of the iron proper,and likewise wherein the steam control valve is incorporated in thesupporting member, and not in the body of the iron, as has heretoforecommonly been done.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, as will hereinafterappear, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein: f

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upperportion of a jumper pressingmachine with an iron of the present invention resting on the buck ortable; f

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the iron proper, parts being broken awayto show the interior construction and the ball joint;

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of the iron and the ball joint;

Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation of the upper portion of the machine,illustrating the connections for the steam supply and return lines;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the control valve forthe steam inlet to the spray chamber of the iron, and likewiseillustrating the swivel connection between the steam line and theattaching member secured to the upper portion of the body of the iron;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional View through the valve portion of theattaching member on lthe line VI--VI of Fig. 5, the movable portions ofthe valve being omitted; and

Fig. 'i is a detailed View illustratingy the handle moved to ahorizontal position, and also showing a modiiied valve release leveremployed in connection with the handle when so positioned.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed to press the iron down upon thegoods imposed upon the buck or head. In the instant case, there isdisclosed a lever Il (Fig. 1) fulcrumed at l2 upon xed elements I3secured to the machine frame I4, which may be of any approved type. Anymeans may be employed in conjunction with the lever` Il to rock the sameabout its fulcruin,l but inasmuch as such mechanism is common in the artand forms no part of the present invention, it is not deemed necessaryto illustrate the same.

The lever lIl at its upper end is provided with may be placed either ina vertical position or a a forwardly extending bifurcated portion I5forming the support for an arm I6 swiveled thereto so that it may beswung laterally as the iron is manipulated in the manner hereinafter setforth. The upper end of the arm or lever I3 carries a guideway orsupport l1 in which is mounted for sliding movement a bar l 8 whichforms the support for the iron and its allied parts. At its forward end,bar |,8 has rigidly secured to it a supporting element I9 in which isrotatably mounted Aa round stem 2l which terminates at its forward endin a ball 22.

The stern 2l is free to be rotated in the member i9 but is pre' y eludedfrom endwise movement,' except to 'aj"` slight degree, through a collar23` anda cross attaching member or superstructure casting, de-` notedgenerally by 26, to which the iron is secured and from which extendupwardly certain elements now to be described. v

The ball is provided with ank opening extending upwardly.V therethrough(see Figure 2) and imposed upon the upperportion of the ball is a ballbearing assembly denoted generally by 21 of any approved type, thebearing assembly being held in place upon the ball by a washer 28 andlockrnuts 29, 3l mounted upon the threaded upper end of a stud or post32,. the lower threaded end of which passes freely through the extension25 and through the member or casting 2.6 ,and into the body of the iron33. n

As will be seen upon reference to. Fig. 2, the stud or post is providedwith a lock washer 34 seated between a shoulder. on the stud and ashoulder formed in the base ofi the extension 25. This assists inholding the main frame, and the iron` closely together and prevents thest ud from backing out. The post 32 above the collar is of a diametersmaller than theopening -th'rough the ball 22 so that the ball andextension may have a tilting movement with reference tdeach other in alldirections. The ball bearings 21 makes for ease in the manipulation orturning 'of the iron by hand, andtheguiding of theY samelover thegarment or seam. In addition Vtozth'e. stud as a securing means betweentheiron and theasuperstructure casting or supporting memberlZS, a gasket35. is interposed between the two, and .machine screws 36 .are passedthrough the laterally extending flange. of the .member orl cas-ting,Ivto hold the assembly together; Y i

Extending upwardly from themember 2 6 (see Figs. 2 and) is a pair ofarms 31and.38; said arms being interconnected adjacent their;l laterallyextending upper ends by a Vcross bar 3.9, the bar making fory stabilitybetween the-,arms and rendering the structure strong andrigid. The armsare so curved atth'at portionwhich is in alignment with the ball 22 thatthe iron may beswung freely in any direction,.and morepar.-

ticularly abou/t a vertical axis (see Fig.3). kIn

other words, U-shaped recesses are formedwhich permit the iron to swinglaterally with reference f 46 (Fig, 5). The Valve and the projectingportion of the seat are located in a passage or conduit 41 which, inturn, forms an extension of a conduit 48 cored out in the arm 31. Theconduit is connected with' a steam supply line, hereinafter referred to.The chamber 41 (see Fig. 2) is in communication at all 'times withchamber 4| through an opening 49. Steam may thus circulate through thechamber 4l and water produced within the chamber due to the condensationof the steam is drawn off through' a tube 5l, the

upper end of which opens into a discharge or return conduit 52 formed inthe arm 38. The lower end of theA pipe `5I is chamfered and thelowermost end rests upon the lower wall of the cham- To move the valvefrom its seat, a stem 53 extends loosely through the fitting upon whichthe Valve seatA is formed and through a packing gland 55. VThe conduit41 may be brought into communication with `the spray chamber 42 bymoving the valve `from its seat. `Steam then passes around the valvestern 53 downwardly through a small opening 5,1 and into a conduit 58which terminates at its lower end in the spray chamber 42. The spring 46normally holds the valve upon its seat to prevent the passage of steamto chamber A2, There is, however, a; passage of steam to the steamheating chamber 4I at all times so thaitthe iron is kept hot. The valvestem 53 at its outer end is in alignment with an enlargement l5!) on anoperating lever 59 fulcrumed at 6l on member 26 and terminating at itsupper end in anupwardly extendingl arm or finger 62 near the handle ofth'e iron, The( lever carries a button 63, against which the operaltormay press to open the valve.V A tension spring B4' is connected betweenthe lever 59Vand a lug 65cm the arm 31, see Fig. 2. The spring ha-s onlysuflicient tension to holdl the enlargement 65 on the lever against theend of stem 53, or, in other words, to maintainthe lever in operativeposition with reference to thegstembut not to operate the valve.

A handle through which the iron isY manipulated is denotedgby 6,6 and issecured between two upstanding membersb61 and 68; respectively, pivotedat their lower endsutoy the arms 31, 38. i The lower ends oftheupstanding-members are each formed* with a Lcrossedgseat ordepression; 69 designed to coact with-4ak rounded enlargement-1y 1Iformed upon the adjacent member A31 orl 31E!Y as the case may be,` andspring washer 12. The seat 65, therefore,r always has one portion dis,-posed vertically and another horizontally. By this arrangement thehandle maybe maintained in the vertical position, as in Figs, 1, 2, .3and 5, chinthe horizontal position, as in Fig. '1. In the lattervcase,ra *modified form of--valve releasing lever is employedy` thevvsame being L-shaped as shownin Fig. 7, and designated generally by 13.Aflihe lever is maintained in position by the-spring 64a andcooperateswith thevalve rod asi-in the prior construction. i c

The steam supply line forv the iron is. denoted by 14V (Fig. 4) and thereturn line by 1 5. Asis usual, Ythey are provided with the propervalves for controllingl the flow of steam .therethrough rand thedrainage of water therefrom. The-supply valve is designated 10 and thedrainage valve 10a. Y -Y l y f Suitable nipples 1S and 11. extendupwardly from the pipes 14 and 15, respectively, and. each in turn isconnected toga exible hose 1.81- and 19. A swivel connection-8|,`connectseach. hose-toits ,associated nipple. The; opposite; end of:-each hose 'section is connected to one'of the armssi and `38,`preferably as illustrated in Fig. 5. A tube 82 `is-'s'ecured to theend of the hose by the clamp which forms a part of the swivel connection8|, `the lower inturned ends of which extend into *an annular groove 80formed on the upper end of a" packing nut 83 (see Fig. 3). Such a nut isthreaded onto the upper end of each of the members 31 and 38. Locatedwithin the upper end of the. arm 31 is a series of packing washers 84which are backed up by a metallic washer 85 and vangunderlyingcompression spring 86, the latter at its lower end bearing upon ashouldered portion formed in the conduit 48 through which the steampasses.

With a view of holding the pipes 14 and 15, and

Aconsequently the nipples 16 and 11, in xed relation, the .fittings fromwhich the nipples extend (see Fig. 4) are interconnected by a solid rodor bar 95 th'readed into the ttings.

In order to maintain the hose in position where it will not Contact theoperators person when The is manipulating the iron, strut links areemployed, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, there being a pair oflaterallyspaced strut links 81 connected at their lower ends to thesupport I1, and

a strut link 88 connected to bar I8 through shackle 8B. The two links 81are connected to link 88 at S4. The link 88 extends beyond the pivot 94and is provided with a notch to receive .a suitable hanger as 9|preferably formed of wire and extending laterally to provide two hooks92 and 93 in which the looped portions of the hose lines 18 and 19 mayrest (Fig. 4)

As will be readily appreciated from a mere inspection of the drawings,and more particularly Fig. l, as the iron is moved in any direction, thestrut links will pivot about their connection to the respective elementsand maintain the hose in its elevated position without undue binding orcramping of the same. The weight of the hose is substantially equalizedon the two sides of the hanger, so that there is no tendency for thesame to rock or tilt the iron, but on the other hand the swivelconnections between the iron structure and the hose facilitatemanipulating the iron. 'Ihus the weight of the hose is substantiallyremoved from the iron, the hose is always centrally supported, andsubstantially all biasing forces tending to tire the operator andinterfere with his work are done away with, and his freedom of movementmaterially increased.

The swivel joints between the hose and the operating elements also makefor ease of operation of the iron, as there is no twisting movementimposed upon the hose. 'Ihe fact that the connections (supply andreturn) between the hose and the iron structure are located centrally ofthe iron also does away with the imposition of any twisting movementupon the hose.

It is thought from the foregoing that the operation of the structurewill be readily understood, but it may be pointed out that the ballbearing imposed upon the upper portion of the ball 22 makes for ease ofoperation, and inasmuch as the iron normally stands in parallelism orsubstantially so to the buck or ironing board, the operator is notcalled upon to move the iron from a tilted position. By mounting thevalve in the member or superstructure casting 26 and forming the steamconduits therein, expensive manufacture and assembly is minimized. Thevalve is in a position where it may be readily disassembled and againassembled if for any reason inspection or repair becomes necessary. So,

vspraying chambers; a universal connection 'between the ironr and thebar; means for rocking the bar support downwardly to impose pressurethrough the iron upon the goods imposed upon the buck; two hose linesconnected with the heating chamber, one of said lines serving as asupply line and the other as a return line; a valve controlled portleading from the heating chamber to thespray chamber, said valve beingnormally closed; strut links connected respectively to the support forthe bar and to the 4forward end of the bar, said links being pivotallyconnected at their upper ends; and means carried by at least one of thestrut links at its upper end for lsupportingthe hose lines in loopedposition.

2. In a garment press of the seam opener type,

'the combination of an iron; a superstructure casting mounted andsecured upon the upper face thereosaid casting being formed with twoupwardly extending arms,each having a conduit therein in communicationwith a steam chamber formed in the iron body; an iron support having "aspherical head, said head extending inwardly of reentrant portionsformed in the arms aforesaid; a ballbearing resting against the upperportion or face of the spherical head; and a stud or post extendingfreely through the ball bearing Vand likewise through an opening formedin the spherical head and screwed at itswlower end into the iron.

3. A structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein the spherical head restsat its lower portion in a socket orrecess formed in the upper face ofthe casting intermediate the arms aforesaid.

4. In a garment press of the seam opener type, the combination of abuck; an iron mounted for universal movement with reference to the buck,said iron being provided with a steam heating chamber; a superstructurecasting secured to the upper face of the iron, said casting being formedwith a pair of spaced arms each having a conduit therein incommunication with the steam chamber in the iron; a valve forcontrolling the inlet of steam to a spray chamber formed in the iron,said valve being normally closed; a flexible conduit extending upwardlyfrom each of the arms aforesaid, compensating means for so supportingthe flexible conduits with reference to the iron that the pressing faceof the iron normally lies parallel to the buck or table; and meansattached substantially at the center of oscillation of the iron forsupporting the iron above the table.

5. A structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein the exible conduits aresupported by a pair of upwardly extending pivoted thrust links whichcompensate for the relative movement of the iron and conduits as theiron is used.

6. In a garment press of the seam opener type, the combination of aframe; a table mounted thereon; an iron; a casting secured to the upperface of the iron and having two upwardly extending arms in whichconduits are formed for the inlet and return of steam to and from the 7;In a garment press of the seam opener type, the combination ofV a frame;a tablermounted thereon; an iron; a casting secured to the upper faceof the iron and havingw two upwardly `extending arms in which are formedsteam inlet and return conduits for the iron; afvalve mount.- edin thecasting for controlling the introduction of steam into Va spray chamberformed in. the iron; a handle pivotally mounted upon the arms; and meansfor holding the handle in a vertical or a'horizontal position as,desired, whereby, the iron may be employed as ya vertical handle. ironor an offset handle iron.,Y Y j 'o 8. In a garment pressl of theseamfopener type, the combination of a frame; a table mount.- edthereon; an iron containing heatingand spray chambers; `a superstructurecasting attached to the upper face ofthe iron and. having two upwardlyextending arms containing steam inlet and discharge conduits connectedto said heating chamber; .a handle pivotally mountedon said arms; meansfor holding said handle in either a vertical or a horizontal positionYto permit the iron to be employed either as a vertical handle iron oras an offset'handle iron; a valve in said superstructure for controllingthe passage of steam from said heating chamber to the spray chamber; anda valve operating lever pivotally connected to said superstructurecasting in proximity to said handle.`

9. In. an ironing machine, an iron; a frame; a

aaemoo'o supporting means 4movablyj4 connected to said framev forswinging and raising and lowering movements with respect thereto a barmovable ,longitudinally of said supporting means; a cored supportattached to saidv iron; a ball and socket connection between saidsupport and said bar; at least one flexible tubemeans connected atoneend' to a relatively fixed portion of the machine, and at;4 the otherend to said support adjacent, said ball and socket joint for. supplyingheatingy medium to saidiron; a compensating support for said flexibletube means, said support comprising a vertically disposed linkagerhaving pivotally connected branches, the free endiof, one branch beingpivotally connected. tok said bar adjacent the ball and socketconnection and the free,- end of the, other branch to said supportingmeans; and means carried by said linkage adjacent the pivotal connectionof .its two branches for supporting the tubeand causing the movementsthereof to conform to the movements of the linkage as the iron ismanipulated.

10. In an ironing machine of the jumper type; a frame; a buck on saidframe; an iron mounted on said frame for movement in both horizontal andver-tical planes; a universal connection between the iron and itsmounting means, said connection beingk located substantially at thecenter of oscillation of said iron; flexible tubing for supplyingheating medium to said iron, said tubing being connected between a xedportion of the machine and a point adjacent said center ofV oscillation;means comprising an-inverted V linkage connected at one end to move withsaid iron and at the other end to said iron mounting; and means carriedsubstantiallyat the apex of saidlinkage for holding the tubing suspendedsubstantially atits mid-point and permitting free movement thereofduring manipulation of said iron.

HARRY G. SUTTON.

